Pavillion Boots into BIOS unexpectedly

[Fiddlah]

Hello there. My dad handed me this laptop to set up and for some reason it boots into the BIOS instead of directly into windows without me pressing ESC. It only seems to do this while unplugged so I wanted to check if this was just a thing the device does when its low on power.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Fiddlah,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

When a laptop boots into the BIOS (or UEFI) instead of directly into the operating system like Windows, without the user pressing the usual key to enter BIOS (such as ESC, F2, or DEL), it suggests there might be an issue or specific setting causing this behavior. The fact that it only happens when the laptop is unplugged and potentially when it's low on power adds an interesting dimension to the problem. Here are several possibilities and troubleshooting steps you can take:

1. Power Settings or Battery Issue

• Low Battery Behavior: Some laptops might have specific BIOS settings that alter their boot behavior when the battery is low or if there's a problem with the battery. However, booting directly into BIOS is not a standard low-power behavior.
• Battery Health: Check the health of the laptop's battery. A failing or problematic battery might cause unusual behavior, although booting to BIOS directly is less common.

2. BIOS/UEFI Settings

• Boot Order: Ensure the boot order is set correctly in the BIOS. The primary boot device should be the hard drive or SSD where Windows is installed. If the BIOS doesn't detect a bootable device, it might revert to opening the BIOS setup.
• Fast Boot/Fast Startup: Check if there's a setting related to Fast Boot or Fast Startup that might be affecting the boot process when on battery power.
• BIOS Update: It's possible there's a known issue with the BIOS version the laptop is running. Check the manufacturer's website for any BIOS updates that might address boot issues.

3. Hardware Issues

• Drive Connectivity: Ensure the hard drive or SSD is properly connected. A loose connection might cause the BIOS not to detect the boot device, especially if the laptop's position or battery expansion affects internal connections.
• Peripheral Devices: Disconnect any external devices to rule out conflicts that might cause the system to boot into BIOS.

4. Windows Boot Manager

• Repair Windows Boot Manager: If the problem is related to Windows Boot Manager, you might need to repair it using Windows recovery options. This usually requires booting from a Windows installation media (USB or DVD) and using the "Repair your computer" option.

5. Power Management in BIOS

• Check BIOS for Power Management Options: Some BIOS setups have power management options that could influence boot behavior. Although it's less common, there might be settings that affect booting when on battery power.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Rachel571 

HP Support